Smithfield's fresh move for EU

US giant Smithfield is to target the UK market for the first time with fresh pork. The company, one of the world’s largest pork producers, is aiming to becoming a viable third option for UK and EU industry, competing with Tulip and Vion.

John Allton Jones, chief executive of Smithfield Foods, the company’s UK operation, said the business was aiming at the foodservice and food manufacturing sectors.

He said increasing demand for belly products in the US had created a surplus of loins, which were now available for export under favourable conditions. “There’s an imbalance in the US market, which makes the export of loins attractive and there’s increasing demand within the EU for higher-end products.

“We’ve got what Europe needs and I think it’s time to take full advantage of that.”

Smithfield will be launching the move at Anuga, exhibiting on stand B019a in hall 6.1.